Chamber Partners with UA to Launch Leaders to Legends Program for High School Students
February 25, 2025
Now through March 7, high school sophomores in Tuscaloosa County can apply for the Leaders to Legends program intended to empower student leaders to be changemakers in their schools and communities.
In the 2025-26 school year, Leaders to Legends will foster character development, career pathways and community outreach. Students will participate in monthly, hands-on sessions exploring Tuscaloosa's economic, social, historical and political landscape. Community leaders will mentor students as they participate in character-building activities and service projects.
Previously The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama’s Forerunners program, the reimagined program is a collaboration between the Chamber, the University of Alabama Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education, the Leadership Tuscaloosa Alumni Association, and the Tuscaloosa City and County school systems.
Tuscaloosa City School and Tuscaloosa County School System students who are current sophomores and will be juniors during the program may apply Leaders to Legends. Students can apply at leaderstolegends.ua.edu until Friday, March 7.
Interviews for the first cohort of Leaders to Legends will take place March 13 through April 11, with decision letters delivered in May. Participants from Leadership Tuscaloosa will serve as an interview committee and select 40 students to participate each year.
Selected students will be required to submit registration documents and attend each session of the Leaders to Legends program. Session locations include the UA campus, Shelton State Community College and the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy.
2025-2026 Session Schedule:
Session #1 - Foundations of Leadership | Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025 |
Session #2 - Guided Growth | Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025 |
Session #3 - Serving with Purpose | Thursday, Nov.13, 2025 |
Session #4 - Collaborative Leadership | Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026 |
Session #5 - Aspiration to Achievement | Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026 |
Session #6 - Legacy of Leadership and Graduation | Friday, April 10, 2026 |
All sessions will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Learn more and apply at leaderstolegends.ua.edu. For questions, email Kelly Wolfe at leaderstolegends@ua.edu.
______
Program Contacts:
Tuscaloosa City Schools:
Lydia Avant
Director of Public Relations
lavant@tusc.k12.al.us
Tuscaloosa County School System
Terri Brewer
Director of Public Relations
tbrewer@tcss.net
The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama:
Alicia Gregory
Senior Director of Programs and Operations
alicia@westalabamachamber.com
The University of Alabama:
Kelly Wolfe
Program Director
kdwolfe@ua.edu